Pushing opponents in a scrum carries risk of paralysis

A leading doctor has called for contested scrums to be banned because of the risk of paralysis.

A report in the British Medical Journal said players should only engage in uncontested scrums that involve no pushing and are much less dangerous.

But experts said a ban would be controversial and could result in players leaving the game.

James Bourke, consultant general surgeon at Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham has called for the ban after seeing young players paralysed during his 30-year stint as honorary medical officer to Nottingham Rugby Football Club.

"The consequences of injury are so great that the continuing risk of injury cannot be accepted" James Bourke, honorary medical office, Nottingham Rugby Club

"I have attended a large number of games and dealt with players who have been injured.

"Earlier in my career I would have supported contested scrums but I had to change my mind - I have seen seven serious spinal cord injuries, six of which were related to the scrum and two ended up in a wheelchair."

"The consequences of injury are so great that the continuing risk of injury cannot be accepted," he said.

Resistance

Mr Bourke admitted that there would be resistance to a ban as it would change the nature of a "traditional part of the game".

But added: "Rugby union outlawed the 'flying wedge' and the 'cavalry charge' as they are potentially dangerous. It should now outlaw the contested scrum."

In Australia, there have been no spinal injuries in rugby league since contested scrums - in which each set of forwards tries to shove the opponent off the ball - were banned in 1996.

In the UK, changes have been made to the under-19 game rules to make the scrum safer.

The danger comes from the risk of collapse in the middle of the scrum.

An Australian study published last year in the Medical Journal of Australia found that the incidence of spinal injuries in rugby union was twice as high as in rugby league.

The researchers found that 39% of spinal injuries that occurred during a scrum resulted in players being dependent on a wheelchair.

Insurance cover for injured players is also a big problem.

Professor Ron Maughan from the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University agreed the rules of rugby union should be looked at.

"We undoubtedly need a debate on this. But the question is about how you manage the risk - most people would accept there is a risk.

"For many people a dramatic change in the game of rugby would result in them leaving the games, so it is a difficult issue.